Feed unit for electrical wiring systems



Oct. 3, 1950 J. F. o'BRlElmg-r Al. 2,524,071

FEED UNIT FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEMS Oct. 3, 1950 J. F. o'BRlr-:N ET Al. 2,524,071

FEED UNIT EoR ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEMS Filed March 29, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToRS. JOSEPH F. OBRIEN EARLS. l OYNT J. F. OBRIEN Er AL FEED UNIT FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEMS Oct. 3, 419,50

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Patented Oct. 3, 195

FEED UN IT FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEMS Y Joseph F. OBrien, Lebanon, andEarl S; Boynton, East Orange, N. J., assignors to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 29, 1946, Serial No. 658,052

2 Claims.

The invention relates to feed units for electri-' cal wiring systems.

More particularly, the invention relates to devices employed in electrical wiring systems, composed of preformed units for ready interconnection with other units. The interconnected component units of such systems are usually supported along exposed wall surfaces, where they are conveniently accessible during installation and for possible future repair or change.

The particular type of wiring device to which the invention is directed is generally known as a feed" section or unit, and serves to connect the system as a whole with the source of electrical supply.

Among the objects of the invention are:

To provide an improved feed unit for an electric wiring system;

To provide a feed unit which permits the introduction of power source conductors thereinto at a plurality of optional locations;

To provide a feed unit which may fbe used as a common feed junction for a plurality of wiring systems;

To provide a feed unit which may serve as the end section of a wiring system of interconnectedy unit sections;

To provide a feed unit which may serve as an end section of a wiring system for-interconnection with a similar feed unit of a second wiring system, whereby a plurality of individual wiring systems may be mutually interconnected and served from a common source of electric power;

To provide a feed unit which is simple in construction and easily and economically fabricated;

To provide a feed unit especially suitable for use with the flat type of composite electrical wiring conductor strip described and claimed in our co-pending application Serial No'. 652,598, filed March 7, 1946, now Patent No. 2,495,280, entitled Composite Electrical Conductor Strips, and with other generally similartypesof electric wiring conductor strips. v

Further features of the invention reside in the arrangement of the binding post structure and in the housing of the feed unit, whereby positive electrical connection and mechanical stability is assured between it and the interconnecting electricalwiringconductor strip.y

Other objects andl'features of theinventi'on will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of a fragmentary portion of a surface wiring system embodying flat type electrical conductor strips and two interconnected, mutually similar feed units of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but with the cover parts of the two feed units removed, revealing the interior structure and the electrical connections;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to that of Fig. 2, but illustrating the two feed units as disposed and interconnected at right angles;

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4 with cover parts of the feed units inplace;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a feed unit similar to the feed units illustrated in the foregoing gures, Ibut showing the power source cable entering an end of the unit rather than through the base of vthe unit, i. e., the wall of the unit which lies against the supporting surface;

Fig. '7 is a View similar to that of Fig. 1, but illustrating a system wherein the feed unit forms an end section of the wiring system;

Fig. 8` is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line l--I of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 `is a transverse sectional View taken on line Il-Il of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the interior of the feed unit of Fig. '7, showing electrical connections, the cover part of the housing having been removed;

Fig. `13 is a plan View similar to Fig. 12, and illustrates the interior of the body part of the housing per se and the separable binding posts, the interconnecting electrical wiring having been removed;

Fig. 141s a detail perspective view on an enlarged scale of a .binding post of the feed unit;

Fig. 15 is a detail plan View of a securing nut employed in the feed unit; and

Fie'. 16 is a detail view of a closure blank ernployed in the feed unit.

Referring now to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the feed unit of the invention, designated generally I0, is shown as a component of a surface wiring system employing electrical wiring conductor strips Il of flat type, such as that illustrated, described and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 652,598, filed March 7, 1946, and entitled Composite Electrical Conductor Strips.

A wiring system arranged as a closed loop circuit may be conveniently connected to a power source cable by the use of two feed units I0, shown disposed end to end and interconnected by a short jumper cable section I2, as illustrated in Figs. l through 5, only one of the units in this instance connecting directly with the power source cable, for example, the metal sheathed BX cable i3, Fig. 3, or the ordinary, heavily insulated cable I4, Fig. 4.

A single run of wiring conductor strip may be connected to a single feed unit I0, see Figs. 6 through Q, which serves both as a means for con: cting the strip with a power source cable and as avv closed end section for the run.

Such feed unit i5, whether employed in duplicate in association with a closed loop circuit or singly in association with a utility run of wiring strip, comprises preferably a. two-part housing, advantageouslj, molded of a plastic material possessing the desired insulating properties, typified by phenol resin plastics. A body part I5 serves as the main receiving and retaining portion of the housing, and a cover part i6 coacts therewith.

The housing body part I5, see especially Fig. 13, is recessed along its length, having a floor Ia and. side and end walls rising therefrom. Intermediate the length thereof a transverse wall or partition iiib, preferably integral with the floor and side walls, as shown, divides the lengthwise recess inte two receiving chambers I 'l and I I-I. The transverse wall or partition is thick, and is insu- Into its body is formed a curality of relatively deep holes, in number coro the number of electrical conductors removably receive and retain electrical binding posts. Since a two-conductor system is illus trated in each instance, the feed unit lil is shown as having two deep recesses I8 and I9 formed into its transverse wall or partition I5b. Also formed into the transverse wall or partition, though not so deeply, are passages I8@ and I9a to accommodate the wiring leads; they interconnect the two chambers I and I'l--L Both end walls of the housing part I5 are channeled, one for receiving an end of the electrical conductor wiring strip I I, and the other for receiving either a power source cable or jumper cable, or a closure disk, depending upon the requirements of the individual installations. The channel 2d is rectangular in configuration and extends slightly below the hoor level, from where a ramp 2da leads inward of the chamber Il. The wiring strip enters the feed unit at this location, lying on the ramp 2da and extending well within the chamber I?, see Fig. l2. The other channel 2i coordinates with the socket end formation Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, and is therefore, semi-circular in configuration, having what may be termed a concentrically countersunk midporticn 2 d for receiving an insert, either an intei-nelly threaded nut 23, as illustrated per se in Fig. i5 or an insulating closure blank 2d,

shown in Fig. 16. It is stated that since it is desired that the unit be anchored against turning, the countersunk channel portion 2 Ia is contoured as a bed for receiving the nuts anchoring 5 projections 23a.

Within the confines of chamber I I--I the floor Iba of the housing body part has formed therein sunken areas, of formation conforming with certain insert parts of the feed unit.

One of these insert parts is a nut 23, which may or may not serve a useful purpose, depending upon whether or not the power source cable is led into the unit therethrough. Iu will be observed that the floor I5a is thinner throughout a circular portion I5c of diameter approximating the inner diameter of the nut 23 than it is elsewhere, giving rise to a disc knock-out which can be conveniently broken out when entry of the power source cable is desired at that location, as

shown in Fig. l2.

The other insert part is a securing piece 25, see Fig. l2, advantageously a metal stamping of U-shaped formation having inturned iianges 25a, for a purpose hereinafter referred to, and a screw 25 hole in its bottom aligned with a corresponding screw hole`26 formed in the body part bottom, see Fig. 13, for enabling an ordinary wood screw 2?, see Fig. 9, to secure the body part to a base -board 28 or like supporting member.

30v For securing purposes, at the opposite end of the housing body part are a post 29, see Fig. 1l, which rises desirably integrally from the floor I'5a, and concave screw-receiving formations 30, which extend desirably integrally from the-side Walls Sli'adjacent thereto. These members, namely the post 29 and the side formations 30, provide support for a bridge element 3|, preferably a metal stamping. Aligned screw-receiving holes extend -centrally through the bridge element 3l and post 40H29 and an ordinary wood screw 32 may be em ployed to secure both the bridge element to the post and the housing body part I5 to the base board 28.

The cover part I6 of the feed unit housing is Lformed to t tightly over the body part I5, and to coact therewith in defining the desired Socket end 22 for the reception and securement of either a power source cable I 3 or I4 or of the closure Vblank 24. It is formed, further, to close the channel opening 20 above the wiring strip II.

For the above purposes the cover part I6 possesses a semi-circularly channeled end portion 33, see Fig. 9, which is similar to and cooperates with the channeled end portion 2I of the housing body part I5. Together they form the socket end 22 of the feed unit.

The opposite end portion of the cover-part possesses an apron member 34, see Figs. 9 and 1l, which nts into the channel 26 of the housing body part I 5 and closes it off above the wiring strip II.

For tightly fastening the cover part I5 in place over the body part I5 and thereby provide a closed protective housing pleasing to the eye, screws 35 and 36, see especially Fig. l1, are passed through holes provided in the bosses Ilia and IBD, respectively, which extend inwardly of the cover part and are integral therewith, such screws engaging the threads of internally threaded holes formed in the opposite end portions of the bridge element 3|.

In addition, a yoke 3l, see Fig. 9, has tip-end anges arranged to engage under the inturned anges 25a of the securing piece 25, and, when drawn upwardly by a screw 38, to lock therewith.

- When incorporated in awiring system', such as that illustrated in the drawings, the feed unit of the invention` serves admirably to connect the electrical conductor wiring strip of the system with the power source cable. As can be seen from Figs. 2, 4, 9 and 12, the wiring strip II extends well within ythe chamber Il. ends I Ia of the conductor elements lie at opposite sides of thepost 29 and extend on through portions of the passages ISU. and I9a fo-r electrical connection with the live wires I3a, Figs. 2 and 9, or live wire Ida, Figs. 4 and 12, of a power source cable I3 or III, or with the wires I2a of a jumper cable IZ-I, Fig. 2.

Electrical connection is effectively accomplished by means of binding posts 40 removably positioned within the deep recesses IB and I9 of the housing body part I5. As illustrated in Fig. 14, a binding post 4U advantageously comprises an internally threaded tubular sleeve element 40a arranged to slide down into place within a deep recess I8 or I9, and a clamping screw 40h arranged to screw up and down on the internal threading of the sleeve element. The sleeve element 40a is cut deeply through the greater part of its length and completely across diametrically, providing a cradle 40e within which the electrical conductors and live wires engage one another and are clamped tightly together in electrical connection by the screw 40h.

The feed unit of the invention is versatile in its adaptation to varying conditions of use. As i1- lustrated, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, two of the units may be connected back to back mechanically by means of the tubular jumper element I2, the opposite threaded end portions of which are mechanically secured to the respective unit by the nuts 23, and electrically by means of the jumper cable IZ-I, the wires I2a of which are clamped within the binding posts I8 and I9 of the respective units. By running. the electricity conducting wiring strip II of a closed loop wiring system into the opposite receiving ends of the interconnected feed units and clamping their respective conductors in the binding posts of the respective units, either unit may be made the feed for the system. It is only necessary to. break out the knock-out disc I5c in the oor of the particular unit chosen, here shown as the left hand unit, screw the power source cable adaptor tting 4I in place in the nut 23, thereby establishing secure mechanical connections, and clamp the live wires f the power source cable in the binding posts.

An arrangement similar to the above may be employed also for two interconnected, single runs of wiring strip.

In instances where only one feed unit is employed, power source cable may be led thereinto through either the socket end portion 22 of the housing, as in Fig. 6, or through the door thereof, as in Figs. 7 through 12. In both instances the alternative entry is eectively closed off, in the rst by the closure blank 24, and in the second by the knock-out portion I c.

Whereas this invention has been described with respect to certain preferred specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various changes may be made therein and that other embodiments may be developed without departing from the spirit and generic scope of the invention, as set forth herein and as dened by the claims which here follow.

We claim:

l. A feed unit for an electric wiring system comprising a housing consisting of a body part recessed along its length; a coacting cover part The bared prongk for substantially closing said recessed body part and an integral transverse wall formed .in said body part to divide the recess thereinA into two receiving chambers, said wall having therein ay plurality of relatively deep holes and passages connecting each hole therein with each receiving chamber into which said body part is divided, said body part having a semi-circular. channel formed in an end wall thereof for reception of a power source cable end extending into one of the receiving chambers therein, said body part also having a rectangular channel formed in the oppositev end wall thereof for reception of a conductor wiring strip end extending into they other receiving chamber therein, said cover part having a semi-circular channel formed in one end wall thereof for coaction with the semi-circular channel in the end wall of said body part to surround closely and completely the power source cable end extending into said housing, said cover part also having at its opposite end wall an apron tting into the rectangular channel in said body part to close said housing about the conductor wiring strip end extending into said housing; in combination with metallic binding posts in the deep holes in said transverse wall, each of said binding posts comprising an internally threaded sleeve element cut deeply across diametrically to register with the passages in said wall connecting the deep hole with each receiving chamber, and a clamping screw engaging the threads of said sleeve element to clamp together a conductor of the power source cable extending into one receiving chamber of said body part and a conductor of the conductor wiring strip extending into the other receiving chamber of said body part.

2. A feed unit for an electrical wiring system comprising a housing consisting of a body part recessed along its length; a coacting cover part for substantially closing said recessed body part; and an integral transverse wall formed in said body part to divide the recess therein into two receiving chambers, said wall having therein a plurality of relatively deep holes and passages connecting each hole therein with each receiving chamber into which said body part is divided, said body part having a semi-circular channel formed in an end wall thereof for reception of a power source cable and extending into one of the receiving chambers therein, the semi-circular channel formed in the cable-receiving end wall having therein a concentrically counter-sunk mid portion for reception of a cable-engaging nut and being contoured to prevent such nut from turning therein, said body part also having a rectangular channel formed in the opposite end wall thereof for reception of a conductor wiring strip and extending into the other receiving chamber therein, the rectanagular channel in said body part being formed with a ramp leading inwardly to the adjacent receiving chamber therein, said cover part having a semi-circular channel formed in one end wall thereof like that in one end wall of said body part for coaction with the semi-circular channel in the end wall of said body part to surround closely and completely the power source cable end extending into said housing, said cover part also having at its opposite end wall an apron tting into the rectangular channel in said body part to close said housing about the conductor wiring strip and extending into said housing; in combinationwith metallic binding posts in the deep holes in said transverse Wall, each of said binding posts comprising an internally threaded sleeve element cut deeply across diametrically to register with the passages in said Wall connecting the deep hole with each receiving chamber, and a clamping screw engaging the threads of said sleeve element to clamp together a conductor of the power source cable extending into one receiving chamber of said body part and a. conductor of the conductor Wiring strip extending into the other receiving chamber of said body part.

JOSEPH F. OBRIEN.

EARL S. BOYNTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number 8 UNITED STATES PA'EN'S Name Date Lewis Oct. '7, Sturgeon Mar'. 26, Pearson Oct. 7, Wermine June 7, Radack Oct. 25, Eccles June 13, Frank Mar. 2, Gra-nt May 11, Abbott May 3l, Benander Nov. 12, 

